[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H1421]]
  U.S. MINT'S DENIGRATION OF FOUNDING FATHER IN ADVERTISEMENT PROGRAM 
                           SHOULD BE STOPPED

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to take issue 
with the United States Mint's misguided decision to denigrate our 
Founding Father in their current advertisements promoting their new $1 
coin.

                              {time}  1415

  A current television advertisement campaign has an image of George 
Washington dancing in a night club. And here is an ad from last 
Sunday's Washington Post which shows George Washington with two 
drinking women. Here is one from last Thursday in the same newspaper, 
the Washington Post, which shows George Washington with the phrase, 
``Change Happens.''
  Now, we all know the origin of this phrase, blank happens, and it is 
disgusting. I can say with complete certainty that our first President 
would not approve of this portrayal of himself.
  And it gets worse. The Mint has initiated a $45 million advertising 
campaign of which this is a part. That is the taxpayers' money. These 
funds come directly out of the Treasury Department's budget. I am quite 
sure this money could be spent on more productive activities.
  Mr. Speaker, it is no wonder many of today's youth have little or no 
knowledge of our Founding Father and first President, George 
Washington. This type of treatment by our own Government agencies only 
goes to further denigrate the image of one of our greatest citizens, 
and this advertising campaign should be halted immediately.

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